Post Darts Outdoor Dart Game

ABSTRACT

An outdoor dart game is played with a supply of darts that are thrown at each of two opposed posts. The posts are low to the ground for safety and positioned a distance from one another. Players alternate throwing darts at a post. Scoring is counted according to the position of the darts on the post, only one team earning a score for each round of play.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of outdoor games, and more particularly to outdoor games that are intended for use in a residential yard, or a park-like/recreational setting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parks and residential yards are conducive to playing various types of games, especially games that one may readily transport in a passenger automobile and play in a limited space. Some popular games in that category are horseshoes, ladderball and croquet.

The conventional game of darts, as opposed to lawn darts, is played using darts having sharp points that are thrown at a target hung on a wall at about eye level. The wall behind the target prevents the darts that miss the target from flying farther and hurting someone. It would be potentially dangerous to throw sharp darts at an eye level target out of doors in case the dart misses the target, the dart could hurt people in the area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a dart game that is played with sharp darts (or Plastic tipped darts) in an open area. The game described herein uses a post that rests on the ground as a target, which requires the players to throw the darts in a downward trajectory. The post is attached to a safety zone that has a marked foul line. The target post and safety zone are connected together using a base and inner post which (after being connected together) slide through a hole on the safety zone, and into a bored hole in the bottom of the target post. Two posts (along with their safety zones) are placed on level ground a predetermined distance from one another. The selected distance is controlled by a string (or other type of linear spacer) of predetermined length that is fastened to the base of the two posts which eliminates the need to measure the distance between posts when setting up. Players stand at one foul line and throw darts at the opposing post. The closer a dart is to the top of the post, the higher score earning potential.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention is best understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which like elements are identified by similar reference numerals and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view' of the outdoor dart game invention with a player throwing a dart from behind the foul line of a first post to a second post.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment dart post according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment dart post according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of how each post is assembled for play including the base, inner post, safety zone, and the outer post (referred to as the “post”).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

Referring to FIG. 1, a first post 20 is attached to a first safety zone 30. Foul line 32 is marked across the top surface of safety zone 30. A second post 20 a is attached to a second base 30 a. Second foul line 32 a is marked across the top surface of safety zone 30 a. Safety zone 30 and safety zone 30 a are separated from one another to provide a distance D from foul line 32 to foul line 32 a, in the preferred embodiment being approximately 360 cm (12 feet). A linear spacer 34 connects two bases (the bases are unseen in this view because they are under the safety zones) to establish and maintain the preferred distance D between the two foul lines. Spacer 34 may be made of any convenient material, e.g. a flexible strap, cord, or string. Alternately, spacer 34 may be a rigid plank, optionally hinged in two or more sections for ease of storage and transport. A player is illustrated standing behind foul line 32 adjacent to the first base 30 and throwing a dart 16 at post 20 a which is connected to base 30 a. As shown, dart 16 is thrown to follow a trajectory and drop relatively steeply when nearing post 20 a, thus minimizing the possibility of injury to a person standing behind base 30 a. Dart 16 is indicated by number 16′ after impinging target 20 a. Alternately, the dart game of the invention may be played with a single target placed remotely from a single foul line.

Referring further to FIG. 1, post 20 and post 20 a are attached respectively to safety zone 30 and safety zone 30 a by conventional fastening means, e.g. one or more screws through the base into the bottom of the target post. Preferred embodiment uses a base and inner post to connect the outer post (20 and 20 a) to the safety zone (30 and 30 a). Alternately, posts 20 and 20 a may be connected to the ground with a pin, avoiding the need for a base and inner post. Safety Zones 30 and 30 a are preferably formed with a length L of approximately 90 cm (3 feet) and a width W of approximately 60 cm (2 feet). Safety Zones offer protected areas around the targets to keep spectators out of danger and to avoid damage to dart tips when the game is played on hard surfaces. Posts 20, 20 a are preferably formed with a height H of approximately 30 cm (1 foot).

Referring now to FIG. 2, a first embodiment of target 20 is shown in perspective view with a dart 16′ impinging the top surface thereof. Post 20 may be square or rectangular in footprint shape, with a face width F of at least approximately 10 cm (4 inches). The relatively short height of post 20 requires a player to throw a dart in a low trajectory, minimizing danger to spectators. Post 20 is formed at an angle X to horizontal, angle X being between approximately 0 ⁰ and 89 ⁰, with the preferred embodiment being a 30° angle which allows the target to easily accept darts thrown in a downward trajectory. Post 20 is divided into four scoring segments. The face of post 20 includes a lower portion 22 and an upper portion 24, a top surface 26 and an optional goal 28 differentiated by coloration or shading and having different point values. The top of post 20 (the angled portion of post 20) includes multiple scoring surfaces. Post 20 is formed of a penetrable material for receiving darts, e.g. wood, cork, or the like. Alternately, post 20 may be formed with a dense core and a penetrable external surface.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a second embodiment is depicted as post 40, shown in perspective view with a dart 16′ impinging the top surface thereof The primary difference with respect to target 20 shown in FIG. 2 is that top scoring surface 46 and 48 is a type of alternate scoring pattern. Target 40 is formed at an angle X to horizontal, angle X being between approximately 0 ⁰ and 89 ⁰ In this configuration, top surface 46 also resides substantially perpendicular to the trajectory of dart 16 as shown in FIG. 1. Post 40 has a lower portion 42, an upper portion 44, a top surface 46 and an optional goal 48.

The game play proceeds as follows, referring again to FIG. 1. Each team of one or two players has 3 darts, the teams having different colored darts. Player 10 stands behind foul line 32. A player from the opposing team (not shown) stands to the side of base 30. A second player from each team (not shown) stands to the side of base 30 a. Player 10 throws dart 16 from base 30 to impinge post 20 a. The dart sticks into a portion of post 20 a. The opposing team player located on the base 30 side stands behind foul line 32 and throws a dart at target 20 a. Player 10 and this opposing player alternate throwing their two additional darts.

Scoring of the round described in the paragraph above is as follows:

-   1) A dart that lands in lower portion 22 or 42 (see FIG. 2 or 3)     qualifies for 1 point. -   2) A dart that lands in upper portion 24 or 44 qualifies for 2     points. -   3) A dart that lands on top surface 26 or 46 outside of optional     goal 28 or 48 qualifies for 3 points -   4) A dart that lands in optional goal 28 or 48 qualifies for 4     points.

Only one of the teams can score points in each round of throwing. The player whose dart is in the highest portion of post 20 or 40 wins the round and scores points according to the portion of post 20 or 40 which his or her dart impinges. If both players' darts land in the same portion of post 20 or 40, the player whose dart impinges higher on the post wins the point. If goal 28 or 48 is provided, the player whose dart lands closest to the center of goal 28 or closest to the rear edge of goal 48 wins the 4 points. If no goal 28 or 48 is provided and both players' darts land on top surface 26 or 46, the player whose dart lands closest to the rear edge of top surface 26 or 46 wins the point. If one player has multiple darts higher than any of the opponent's darts, the player with the higher darts is credited with the point value of all of his or her higher positioned darts. The player whose darts impinge the post at a lower portion earns no score for the completed round of play.

Play proceeds by the players on the safety zone 30 a side standing behind foul line 32 a following the same procedure as described above. The first team to accumulate 21 points wins the game.

While the description above discloses preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is contemplated that numerous variations and modifications of the invention are possible and are considered to be within the scope of the claims that follow. 

What is claimed is: 1) An outdoor dart game comprising at least one vertically oriented post, and supported on a ground surface positioned a selected distance from a foul line, the post having a plurality of scoring portions and being adapted for being impinged by darts thrown by players, the dart game play method comprising the steps of: a. a first player standing at or behind the foul line; b. the first player throwing a first dart at the opposing post; c. the first dart impinging a scoring portion of the opposing post; d. a second player standing at or behind the foul line; e. the second player throwing a second dart at the opposing post; f. the second dart impinging a scoring portion of the opposing post; g. the first player and the second player alternately throwing additional darts at the opposing post; and h. upon depleting the supply of darts, determining a score. 2) The outdoor dart game described in claim 1, wherein a dart landing at a higher position on the post than an opponent's dart attains a score, only one of the two players earning a score for each round of play. 3) The outdoor dart game described in claim 1, further comprising a second foul line adjacent to the first post and a second post adjacent to the first foul line. 4) The outdoor dart game described in claim 3, wherein a third player is on a team with the first player and a fourth player is on a team with the second player, the third and fourth players throwing darts from the second foul line toward the second target, the score of the first and third players being combined as a team score and the score of the second and fourth players being combined as a team score. 5) The outdoor dart game described in claim 1, wherein the target post is divided into a lower scoring portion, an upper scoring portion and a top surface scoring portion with an optional fourth top surface scoring portion. 6) The outdoor dart game described in claim 5, wherein a score for a dart impinging the lower scoring portion is less than a score for a dart impinging the upper scoring portion, and a score for a dart impinging the top surface scoring portion is greater than a score for a dart impinging the upper scoring portion. 7) The outdoor dart game described in claim 6, wherein when a dart impinges a higher position on the lower scoring portion, the upper scoring portion, or top surface scoring portion, relative to a dart impinging a respective lower position on either the lower scoring portion or the upper scoring portion, the higher dart attains the point value. 8) The outdoor dart game described in claim 7, wherein only one team is credited with a score for each round of play. 9) The outdoor dart game described in claim 7, wherein the first team to accumulate a score equal to or greater than a selected number is deemed to win the game. 